The Small Münsterländer Pointer/Kleiner Münsterländeren
The small gundog with the great performance.
Written by Henrik R. Andersen. Translated by Lotte Evers.
 

 
"The small dog stands with a firm pointing position for all crouched game, until the hunter reaches the dog - subsequently the game is raised, the shot prey is retrieved, the winged is with greatest care and certainty tracked and retrieved"
Rudolf Löns, 1921 about the Kleiner Münsterländer.

History of the breed (Germany)
As many other breeds, witch we know of and use for hunting purposes today, The Münsterländer is very likely to originate from the Vagtel- and Spaniel-like dogs, as described in literature back to the 13th and 14th century - until the breed's official recognition in Germany in 1912.

In 1555 there was mentioned a pointing spaniel (Dudley) and in 1588 the name "Vagteldog" was mentioned, for the first time. The dogs were described as having strong pointing- and good tracking abilities (Sebitz). The Vagteldog became the "forerunner" of the breed we today know as the Kleiner Münsterländer.

Paintings particularly made by German, Italian and Dutch painters from the same periods, also represented dogs who were very similar to the breed we know of today.

The Löns Brothers became the first pioneers of the breed, when they from the beginning of 1890 - along side other enthusiasts - tried to create a renewed interest for the Vagteldog.
An interest, which since the great land reforms in 1848 and the consequential alterations of the way of hunting, had been declining rapidly.

In his search for individuals, who could become a basis for an actual breeding of the nearly extinct Vagteldog, Edmund Löns was particularly tireless. He often succeeded in finding individuals on secluded farms, he could use in his breeding work. He named these dogs "Heidevachtel" (moor/heith-vagtel) - a name that would imply, that the breed originally came from the farmers (the common people), and that the breed originated as a highly cherished gundog.

The Vagteldogs were divided in to two groups: a southern German and a West-falisk group.

In 1907 he came in contact with senior teacher Heitmann, who trough family breeding/familieavl had a remain of the Westfaliske Vagteldogs. These dogs became the starting point for a more purpose filled breeding, and has since been named the "Heitmann-strain".

In 1911 Edmund Löns located one more strain in the areas round Velen, Recken and Coesfeld. As with the "Heitmann-strain", he also found this very useful for the future breeding.

That the two strains were quite different exterior- and genetic wise was not so important, as long as the superior and desired hunting abilities were present. Edmund Löns and senior teacher Heitmann now began to cooperated the development of the breed, where they purebred the two strains and crossed them. In 1912 the two strains united in the "Verein für Kleine Münsterländer Vorstehhunde (Heidewachtel)" club - and the breed became officially recognized under that name. At this time the breed was used in most of Germany, however the majority were in Northern Germany, Westfallen especially in Münsterland.

In the subsequent period to the second world war, the breed gained ground primarily due to the breeds hunting qualities, which many devoted fans, thru a determined breeding work, were able to improve and maintain - both the hunting qualities as well as the exterior of the dog, as the existing standard required.

As a curiosity, it has been mentioned, that roan dogs several times have been breed as a counterpart to the original brown/white dogs. This succeeded in the mid 20ties. From the late 20ties the roan dogs slowly achieved the same popularity as the original brown/white.

During the Second World War the breeding all most came to a standstill. But in 1949 the "Verein für Kleine Münsterländer Vorstehhunde (Heidewachtel)" club (mentioned above) merged with the "Deutsche Heidewachtel" Club and was given the name "Verband Für Kleine Münsterländer Vorstehhunde e. V" - and the determined development of the breed could continue.

The dividing of Germany after the Second World War apparently had a negative effect on the development of the breed in the former GDR (German Democratic Republic).
The breed has gained many fans in its homeland ever since, and is to day - with the Wirehaired Pointer - the most popular and used pointing birddog among the German hunters.

The Münsterländer in Denmark

Count Rewentlow presumably imported the two first Kleiner Münsterländere in Denmark, from Germany in 1915 (approx.), three years after the breeds official recognition in Germany. Both dogs were used for hunting by forester Errboe at the Brahe Trolleborg estate.

It was, however, first from the mid 50ties, that the breed seriously gained foothold in Denmark, when A-L. Fischer, as a first, systematically imported dogs from Germany and started an actual breeding program, here in Denmark.

By the forming of the Danish Münsterländer Club in 1968, it was possible for the breed to become recognized officially in this country. In retrospect, there is no doubt, that the enthusiastic fans of the breed, who in the first difficult decades worked with and spread the knowledge of the breed widely among Danish hunters, were certain of having found a hunting-breed that was, and to this date still is, a highly useful dog for the Danish form of hunting. The popularity the breed has today among the Danish hunters, indicates this - A popularity not only achieved by showing one Danish champion after the other, at hunting-trials/ jagtprøver, but also by the fact that many Danish hunters have found a spectacular gundog, to accompany them during practically any type of hunting.

The Danish Münsterländer Club is to day the second largest Local club among the different clubs for pointing gundogs - Only surpassed by the Danish Wirehaired Club.

In 2002 was registered 306 pedigree puppies a year and the Danish Münsterländer Club, has a great influence on the breeding work. The club only recognises dogs that are used for hunting purposes in its breddingprogram, and therefore e.g. only refer prospective buyers, who's soul purpose is to use the dog for hunting, to our breeders.

Qualities
The breed today continues to possess the working qualities and predispositions, that originally made the Vagteldog to a cherished hunt-mate for the German farmers (common people). The breed possesses qualities and predispositions, that then were of crucial importance for the preservation of their daily living.

As a working dog the Kleiner Münsterländer is described as a continental pointing birddog with a medium-sized seeking distance, a firm pointting position, a great water passion, an appropriate portion of keenness towards game as well as a particularly good predisposition for al types of "working after the shot" (retrieving).

These qualities, along side a flexible intelligence and being very trainable, makes the breed useful for hunting in the field, woods, marshes or by lakes and so on. - In the Kleiner Münsterländer you will, in other words, find an extremely efficient all-round dog for use in all Danish hunting forms - by and large.

Its is a medium sized dog (50-56 cm.) rectangular body with a strong, yet noble and elegant appearance. The fur is half-length, dense adjoining with moderate feathering on tail, back of forelegs, back of hind legs and under body. Colours: brown/white or roan.

The breed is a great family dog - under the conditions that it gets the necessary exercise and it's natural requirements are satisfied. It is comfortable both indoors as well as in a outdoor kennel- A Münsterländer must not be kept in an outdoor kennel always - such a life is not right for a Münsterländer.

Information
Information regarding the breed or regarding puppies for sale can be obtained by contacting: The Danish Münsterländer Club's breeding committee.